Entertainment / Lionsgate Director of Next Hunger Games Is... Francis Lawrence, assuming he accepts offer for Catching Fire By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff Posted Apr 20, 2012 8:04 AM CDT Copied In this image released by Lionsgate, Jennifer Lawrence portrays Katniss Everdeen in a scene from "The Hunger Games." (AP Photo/Lionsgate, Murray Close) News that Hunger Games director Gary Ross wouldn't be back for the sequel had Lionsgate execs searching for a replacement; it seems they've found one. The studio hopes Francis Lawrence, who directed I Am Legend and Water for Elephants, will sign on for Catching Fire, the Hollywood Reporter notes. Lionsgate was to reportedly make Lawrence an official offer yesterday afternoon. He beat out Moneyball director Bennett Miller, who had scheduling conflicts, for the job. (More Lionsgate stories.) Report an error